Chapter 269 Admiration
The fire was really intense.
Since James was carrying two kids with both hands, he couldn't cover his mouth. Every breath he took placed a huge burden on his lungs, and he could clearly feel that he was inhaling a lot of toxic dust.
He was drenched in sweat, with drops streaming into his eyes, blurring his vision within minutes of entering. Due to the high temperature around him, his sweat was quickly evaporated.
Even with shoes on, he could clearly feel the scorching heat of the floor.
James moved meticulously. He trudged through the fire, one child clinging to his back, his arms cradling two more.
The temperature was so high that even the pillars were starting to peel and melt.
"It's so hot here, help us out."
One child clinging to his neck weakly cried out, his grip loosening and threatening to fall at any moment.
James panicked and urgently shouted. "Kids, hang in there! We're almost out; your parents are waiting for you."
As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, the thick smoke rushed into his mouth. The temperature was so high that he felt like his throat was burning.
Fortunately, they seemed to regain some consciousness after hearing his words, and his grip strengthened, preventing him from falling.
Relying on his memory of the way in, James ran out as fast as he could. He finally made it down the stairs, but by then, the fire had completely spread to the first floor. Cabinets, tables, and other furniture were burning, and paper items had already turned to ash.
"They're out!!"
James saw five men in the living room, tentatively moving forward, but they couldn't stand the high temperature after just a few steps. Their initial determination was replaced by fear in the face of such a big fire.
They saw a figure rushing out of the sea of flames and immediately screamed.
James only glanced at them, having no time to respond. Subsequently, he promptly exited the domicile, his urgency heightened by the fact that the three minors in his charge were approaching their physical threshold.
He had to be faster!!
"Move, move! Why are you all blocking the way?!" James roared at the people in front of him. Finally, he made it to the outside ground and breathed a sigh of relief, immediately putting the three children down.
It was then that he noticed the road was already crowded with people, all staring at him with eyes full of admiration, shock, and awe.
James was drenched in sweat, and his face, hands, and neck were covered in dust. Even his hair was partially singed, and his clothes had several burn marks.
The incident elicited a profound sense of shock among all who witnessed it. It was a stark recognition that even the bravest firefighters would not enter a raging inferno with such impunity in a bid to rescue individuals. Yet, he, an ordinary citizen, risked his life to save three children.
"Has the fire department arrived?" James looked around but didn't see any fire trucks; his hope was dashed.
Everyone was stunned by his voice, especially the few teachers who had heard him speak before. Now, his voice was completely different, not just hoarse but broken, with his vocal cords severely damaged, making it unrecognizable.
Jennifer was right behind him, and seeing him like this, she was completely dumbfounded and heartbroken! James looked so miserable now. Even standing a few feet away, she could feel the heat radiating from him.
One could only imagine what he had gone through in that short period.
She bit her lip tightly, wanting to tell James not to go back in, but she couldn't bring herself to say it!
James wiped his sweat and, without saying a word, grabbed a girl's water bottle and gulped it down. The water was gone in a second, finally soothing his throat a bit. He quickly said, "These three kids are probably severely dehydrated. Get them some water! And get your trampoline ready; I might not be able to come down the same way next time!"
With that, he turned to rush back in, locking eyes with Jennifer. Seeing the complex expression on her face, he hesitated for a moment, sighed, took a deep breath, and continued to charge back in!
There were at least a thousand individuals gathered on the ground, all of whom were admiration-filled and clearing a path for him, witnessing this hero's brave dash back into the midst of the flames.
Jennifer watched James rush back into the fire, feeling immense pain and worry.
"Your husband is a hero, truly great!"
A female teacher bowed deeply to Jennifer with utmost respect, expressing her admiration for James, her eyes filled with tears. She had come out of the fire and knew how terrifying and suffocating it was, and the fire wasn't even as intense then as it was now! She couldn't imagine how brave and fearless James had to be to go back in.
Seeing her kind gesture, the remaining teachers also shook off their reverie and returned to their senses, bowing deeply to Jennifer, channeling their respect for James through her.
Jennifer felt the teachers' heartfelt gratitude and admiration for James. Her eyes blurred, and she opened her mouth to say something but found she couldn't express her thoughts.
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